"Cabin in the Woods" is getting raves from critics and moviegoers alike, but the most interesting thing about it isn’t the surprise “twist,” but the twists of the plot itself. What follows is a structural breakdown of the entire movie (SPOILER ALERT) and tips on how to keep your own complicated script under control.

Vocab Lessons explains a common screenwriting or filmmaking technique so that screenwriters can better utilize them in their writing. This post will cover a macguffin, a sometimes insignificant object that drives the plot forward. Some spoilers ahead.

Vocab Lessons explains a common screenwriting or filmmaking technique so that screenwriters can better utilize them in their writing. This post will cover a character foil, which is a character whose traits either mirrors or is opposite to the main character

With its recent re-release in theaters, and several directors, including Guillermo Del Toro, crafting adult versions, Beauty and the Beast is having a cultural reawakening. Though the 3D effects are stunning, the truly amazing element in animated Disney version is the script, which continues to resonate 20 years after the film was released. Read on to find out why.

"The Basics On" investigates one aspect of screenwriting in depth. This entry will focus on the ins and outs of building dynamic characters who drive action, and why a weak or underdeveloped character can led to a film

Script Notes is a series about current cinema and what writers can learn from great (and not-so-great) scripts. This entry is about The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, based on the international best-selling novel and starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara. There will definitely be spoilers in this entry!

Writing and producing a short screenplay has benefits over a full-length. They're less expensive to make, take less time to shoot, and because of youtube and internet streaming, they can now reach a bigger audience than ever before. But just because they're short doesn't mean they're easier to write. Effectively telling a full story in a short film can be a huge challenge. Check out the following tips to make your next short screenplay a success.

Script Notes is a series about current cinema and what writers can learn from great (and not-so-great) scripts. This week's entry focuses on The Descendants, a drama about a man (George Clooney) whose wife slips into a coma after a boating accident. Now he must try to reconnect with his distant daughters while struggling with the news that his wife was having an affair. Some (very minor) spoilers ahead.

"Vocab Lessons" explains a common screenwriting or filmmaking technique so that writers can better utilize them in their writings. This post discusses match cuts, the editing technique of "matching" something in one scene to the next to achieve continuity between the scenes and create metaphor.

Script Notes is a series of posts about current cinema and what writers can learn from great (and not-so-great) scripts. This week's entry focuses on Martha Marcy May Marlene, a psychological thriller about a young woman (Elizabeth Olsen) trying to regain a sense of normalcy after escaping a cult lead by the charismatic John Hawkes. This write-up contains SPOILERS so readers beware!

Though Halloween is over, horror is having a great afterlife. Scary movies are premiering year-round, and high-quality TV shows like The Walking Dead and American Horror Story are terrifying audiences and wowing execs with stellar production values and great acting (Jessica Lange, anyone?) In honor of terror, here are the top tips for writing a horror screenplay.

"The Basics On..." investigate one aspect of screenwriting in depth. This entry is about structure, one of the most crucial elements of a screenplay and the key to crafting a commercially viable script.

Actors create characters and emotion on screen- but what if they want to go further and create their own story? Though it seems daunting at first, many actors have the skills necessary to write a script, they just need a little guidance. Here are the top five tips for actors who want to try their hand at screenwriting.